World

Shahbaz Sharif became the Prime Minister of Pakistan

Monday, March 4, 2024

Pakistan Muslim League (Nawaz) leader Shehbaz Sharif has taken oath as the Prime Minister of Pakistan on Monday, March 4, 2024.

Shehbaz Sharif has taken over as the Prime Minister of Pakistan for the second time. Nawaz Sharif, Bilawal Bhutto Zardari and former President Asif Ali Zardari were present at the swearing-in ceremony.

Chief of Army Staff General Asim Munir was also present at the oath taking ceremony.

Shehbaz Sharif's first term as Prime Minister of Pakistan was only for 16 months.

When he became PM for the first time by removing Imran Khan from the post of Prime Minister through a no-confidence motion, his elder brother Nawaz Sharif was not present in Pakistan.

Contrary to its expectations, Pakistan Muslim League (Nawaz) could not secure a clear majority in the National Assembly in the recently held elections.

Independent candidates supported by Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf emerged as the largest group with more than ninety seats.

Pakistan Muslim League (Nawaz) stood second and had around 80 seats including some independent candidates.

After some initial confusion and hesitation, the Pakistan Muslim League (Nawaz) and the Pakistan People's Party decided to form the government at the centre.

Israel-Gaza ceasefire: Israeli PM Netanyahu refuses to accept Hamas' demand

Thursday, 8 February 2024

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has rejected Hamas's conditions on the proposed ceasefire, saying that a 'complete' victory over Gaza is possible within a few months.

Netanyahu said this regarding several demands of Hamas in response to the Israel-backed ceasefire proposal.

Netanyahu said talks with Hamas were "moving nowhere" and the demands the group was making were "bizarre."

Negotiations regarding ceasefire are still going on so that a deal can be reached.

Speaking to the media on Wednesday, February 7, 2024, Netanyahu said, "There is no other conclusion than a complete victory over Gaza. If Hamas remains in Gaza, the next massacre could happen at any time."

It was believed that Israel would negotiate on Hamas's terms, but this statement by Prime Minister Netanyahu clearly ended such possibilities.

Israeli officials say that Hamas wants to end this war on its own terms, which is completely unacceptable to them.

Senior Hamas official Sami Abu Zuhri told news agency Reuters that Netanyahu's comments were "a form of political arrogance", and show he wants to escalate the conflict in the region.

A new round of talks, brokered by Egypt and Qatar, are expected to begin in the capital Cairo on Thursday, 8 February 2024, an Egyptian official source told the BBC.

An Egyptian official source said that Egypt has appealed to all parties for cooperation to reach a peaceful settlement.

According to Reuters, Hamas's conditions are-

Phase 1 – A 45-day pause in hostilities, during which all Israeli female hostages, male hostages under the age of 19, the elderly and the sick will be released. In return, Palestinian women and children held in Israeli prisons should be released. Israeli forces should withdraw from populated areas of Gaza and hospitals and refugee camps should be rebuilt.

Second phase: The remaining Israeli hostages will be released when the Israeli army completely withdraws from Gaza.

Third phase- Both the sides will give the bodies of those killed and their belongings to each other.

According to the Hamas-run health ministry, so far 27,700 people have died in Gaza and 65,000 are injured.

India will get fencing done on 1643 km long border with Myanmar

Tuesday, 6 February 2024

The Central Government of India has decided to fence the 1643 km long border with Myanmar. India's Union Home Minister Amit Shah gave this information by tweeting.

Amit Shah said that this will allow better surveillance, patrolling and tracking on the border. Amit Shah said that 10 km long border fencing has been done in Moreh in the Indian state of Manipur.

Amit Shah said, "Work is going on on two pilot projects of fencing through Hybrid Surveillance System (HSS). Under this, a kilometer long border will be fenced in the Indian states of Arunachal Pradesh and Manipur."

Amit Shah said that about 20 km long fencing in Manipur has been approved and work on it will start soon.

This announcement of fencing has come at a time when violence has been going on in Manipur for the last several months. Manipur state shares about 400 km long border with Myanmar. Recently, Manipur Chief Minister N Biren Singh had accused the previous central governments of ignoring the northeastern states.

India asks its citizens not to travel to Myanmar's Rakhine state

Tuesday, 6 February 2024

India has asked its citizens not to travel to Rakhine state of Myanmar. The Ministry of External Affairs of India has issued an advisory in this regard.

According to an advisory from India's Ministry of External Affairs, "Due to the deteriorating security situation, disruption of communication services, including landlines, and acute shortage of basic goods, all Indians are advised not to visit Rakhine State in Myanmar."

"The Indians who are already present in Rakhine state should immediately vacate the area."

Violence has continued in Rakhine state since 2016. However, in recent days the conflict between Myanmar's military regime and the Arakan Army (AA) rebel group in Rakhine state has intensified.

Two people died in Bangladesh border area, Bangladesh summoned Myanmar ambassador

Tuesday, 6 February 2024

Bangladesh's Foreign Ministry has summoned Myanmar's ambassador over two deaths caused by mortars fired from across the border.

Due to increased conflict between Myanmar's army and rebel groups, an atmosphere of panic has arisen in some border villages of Bangladesh.

Many more soldiers of Myanmar army have fled to Bangladesh. The number of such civilians and soldiers who fled from Myanmar in Bangladesh has increased to 229.

Arakan rebels have reportedly captured several positions along the border.

What is the matter?

At least two people were killed in Bangladesh by a mortar fired from Myanmar on the morning of Monday, 5 February 2024.

Violent clashes have continued along Myanmar's 270-km border with Bangladesh since November 2023, when rebel Arakan Army (AA) fighters announced an end to the ceasefire that had been in place since the 2021 coup.

According to news agency AFP, people living in villages in Bangladesh bordering Myanmar say that they are living in an atmosphere of fear because of this conflict.

Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB) detained a Myanmar Border Guard Police soldier seeking asylum in Ukhiya in Cox's Bazar district on Tuesday, 6 February 2024.

Aid agency Doctors Without Borders says it has treated 17 people injured in violent clashes on Sunday, 4 February 2024.

Doctors Without Borders reported on Monday, 5 February 2024, that all the injured had been shot. Of these, two were in danger and five were seriously injured.

Local police chief Abdul Mannan said the 48-year-old Bangladeshi woman, named Husne Ara, died on Monday, 5 February 2024. Apart from them, an unidentified Rohingya person also died on the afternoon of Monday, February 5, 2024.

Husne Ara's daughter-in-law said, "They were sitting in the kitchen when suddenly a mortar fell. She was serving food to that Rohingya man. We had hired that man to look after our farm."

America approves four billion dollar drone agreement with India
 
Friday, February 2, 2024

The US State Department has approved a four billion dollar agreement to provide 31 state-of-the-art armed drones to India.

The agreement for the MQ-9B Predator drone was announced during the visit of Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi to the US in June 2023.

The agreement was put on hold by the Senate Committee in December 2023 due to the investigation into the alleged conspiracy to murder an Indian in America.

Now this agreement has been approved by the US Congress.

The Pentagon said the deal includes the sale of 31 armed MQ-9B SkyGuardian drones, 170 AGAM-114R Hellfire missiles and 310 small diameter bombs, communications and surveillance equipment and precision glide bombs.

The prime contractor of this agreement will be General Atomics Aeronautics Systems.

According to news agency Reuters, Senator Ben Cardin said that the agreement was finalized only after the US government agreed to fully investigate the conspiracy behind the Gurpatwant Singh Pannu murder.

Senator Ben Cardin said, "The Biden administration has demanded that there should be investigation and accountability for the conspiracy on American soil and accountability should be fixed for such activities in India too."

In the year 2023, the US had accused the Indian government of conspiring to assassinate an American citizen who supported Khalistan.

On Thursday, February 1, 2024, the Pentagon said that "to strengthen the US-India strategic relationship, this proposed drone agreement with India will support US foreign policy and national security objectives."

Hundreds of bureaucrats from western countries against Israel's Gaza policy

Friday, February 2, 2024

Hundreds of officials working in America and Europe have warned their respective governments in a joint statement about Israel's Gaza policy.

They say that Israel's Gaza policy could be a serious violation of international laws. This joint statement has been signed by more than 800 serving officers from America and Europe.

"Their governments risked becoming involved in the worst humanitarian disaster in this century, and their expert advice was ignored," the statement said.

These are the latest signs of widespread dissatisfaction with Israel among the governments of some of its major allies in the West. One of the people who signed this statement is working in the US government.

He has more than 25 years of experience working in the field of national security. He told the BBC that his concerns were repeatedly dismissed.

Speaking on condition of anonymity, he said, "The voices of those who understand the region and its conditions are being ignored. If we are not able to stop what is happening, then how are we any different .We are actively participating in this, it is completely different from any other situation."

This transatlantic statement has been signed by the bureaucrats of America, European Union and 11 countries of Europe including Britain, France, Germany.

Their joint statement said that Israel has not followed any decorum in its military operations in Gaza. Because of this, thousands of common people have died there which could have been prevented. Israel is deliberately preventing aid from reaching Gaza. Due to this, the danger of people becoming victims of starvation on a large scale is looming.

Will Israel obey the ICJ order in the genocide case in Gaza?

Saturday, January 27, 2024

The International Court of Justice has ordered Israel to take some immediate steps on the case filed by South Africa against Israel on the charge of genocide.

The International Court of Justice has asked Israel to immediately stop any harm being caused to Palestinians in Gaza.

This order cannot be considered a complete victory for South Africa or the Palestinians, because the International Court of Justice has not ordered Israel to establish a ceasefire or stop military operations.

The International Court of Justice acknowledged that the situation in Gaza was 'catastrophic' and could 'deteriorate further'.

The process of giving a final verdict on the charges of genocide on which this case is going on may take several years.

For this reason, the International Court of Justice has asked Israel to take certain steps. Most of these steps are in line with the nine demands put forward by South Africa.

The 17-judge bench of the International Court of Justice ruled by majority vote that Israel must make every effort to protect Palestinians from death and serious physical or mental harm.

The International Court of Justice also cited statements by the Israeli President and the Israeli Defense Minister as saying that Israel should do more to "stop publicly inciting" genocide and punish "those who commit it." .

At the same time, Israel has also been asked to take prompt and effective steps to stop the humanitarian tragedy in Gaza.

Even though the International Court of Justice did not call for a ceasefire, the demands it has made to Israel, if implemented, would bring major changes in the nature of Israel's military operation in Gaza.

Israel rejects accusations of genocide, saying that the Palestinian extremist group Hamas is responsible for the harm being caused to ordinary Palestinians.

Israel says that Hamas operates from under (tunnels) in Gaza's densely populated towns and refugee camps, making it almost impossible for Israel to prevent civilian deaths.

Israel also says that a lot has been done to protect and warn people from danger. Almost all Jewish citizens of Israel believe that the Israeli army is the most moral army in the world. Which is not correct. It would be wrong to call the Israeli army the most moral army in the world.

Since October 7, 2023, 85 percent of Gaza's population of 2.3 million has been displaced due to Israel's attack.

People fleeing the war are having to take shelter in camps already filled beyond capacity. On top of this, there is also a serious shortage of health facilities and essential items.

Will Israel obey the order of the International Court of Justice?

The biggest question is whether Israel will obey the order of the International Court of Justice? Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu says that 'military action will continue until the destruction of Hamas'.

As Judge Joan Donohue, the US president of the International Court of Justice and leading the bench of 17 judges, began to speak, it became clear that the International Court of Justice's focus was on the suffering of the people of Gaza and Israel's efforts to end the case. Has failed in trying to do.

Judge John Donohue summarized what Palestinians living in Gaza are experiencing. Judge John Donohue described the suffering of the children there and said it was 'heartbreaking'.

However, this is not the final decision of the International Court of Justice regarding the charge of genocide. It may take several years for a decision to be taken in this regard.

But the steps that the International Court of Justice has asked to be taken are such that the Palestinians of Gaza can get some security.

Now Israel has to decide what to do on this? The decisions of the International Court of Justice are binding, but there is no system by which they can be implemented.

In such a situation, it is possible that Israel may completely ignore the decision of the International Court of Justice.

Efforts are already underway at the diplomatic level for a two-month ceasefire and the work to provide aid to Gaza may also accelerate in the coming times.

In such a situation, Israel can say that it is already taking steps based on the demands of the International Court of Justice.

Even if the situation improves, which currently seems unlikely, the charge of genocide against Israel will remain, because the International Court of Justice has found this case to be important enough to be heard.

Israel is a country that was born out of one of the worst examples of genocide.

Until the International Court of Justice gives its final verdict in the case filed by South Africa, Israel will have to live under the shadow of the accusation of genocide.

What did the International Court of Justice say to Israel on the ongoing Israeli attack in Gaza?

Friday, January 26, 2024

The International Court of Justice has issued an order on Friday, January 26, 2024, against Israel on charges of committing genocide against Palestinians in Gaza.

South Africa last year filed an appeal against Israel in the International Court of Justice on 29 December 2023.

Hearing on this matter was going on for the last few days.

On Friday, January 26, 2024, the ICJ issued its order in this case.

The International Court of Justice has said in its interim order that Israel should make every possible effort to protect Palestinians from harm in this conflict.

The International Court of Justice has said that Israel should ensure that the Israeli army does not carry out activities that amount to genocide.

The International Court of Justice has said that Israel should stop any public statement that amounts to incitement to genocide in Gaza and decide on its punishment.

South Africa expressed happiness over the decision of the International Court of Justice, what did Israel say?

South African lawyers have expressed happiness over this decision from the International Court of Justice.

South African Foreign Minister Naledi Pandor has said that "I wanted the order to include the word pause." But I am satisfied with the guidelines given.

A journalist asked Naledi Pandor of South Africa whether she expected Israel to comply with the order.

On this Naledi Pandor said that she never expected that this would be possible.

At the same time, Mark Regev, top advisor to Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu, has said that South Africa did not succeed in achieving its objectives.

According to BBC International Editor Jeremy Wobben, what the judge said is a victory for South African lawyers and a defeat for Israel.

Jeremy Wobben has written - 'The judge did not say that you have to cease fire because under International Humanitarian Law, war is legally acceptable in the right circumstances and in the right legal framework. But what the judge has said means that under these guidelines Israel will have to make major changes in the way it fights wars.'

According to news agency Reuters, Palestinian Minister of the Palestinian Authority, which rules the West Bank, Riyad al-Maliki has expressed happiness over this decision.

Riyad al-Maliki has said that the ICJ judges, after examining the law and the facts, have ruled in favor of international law and humanity.

What allegations did South Africa make against Israel?

South Africa, in its 84-page appeal filed at the ICJ, said Israel's actions were genocidal in nature as their intention was to cause the maximum destruction of the Palestinian people in Gaza.

It said acts of genocide include killing, inflicting serious mental and physical harm on the Palestinian people, and creating conditions aimed at "their collective destruction."

According to the appeal filed in the ICJ, the intentions of genocide are also reflected in the statements of Israeli officials.

According to Juliet M., a law lecturer at the University of South Australia, South Africa's petition was 'very comprehensive' and 'very carefully written'.

What is genocide?

This term was coined in 1943 by the Jewish Polish lawyer Raphael Lemkin. He linked the Greek word jenos, meaning race or clan, with the Latin word cid (kill).

Witnessing the brutality of the mass genocide of Jews during World War II, Dr Lemkin campaigned to criminalize genocide under international law.

Every member of Dr. Lemkin's family except his brother died in the Holocaust.

Due to the efforts of Dr. Lemkin, the United Nations Genocide Convention was accepted in December 1948, which came into force in January 1951.

Article 2 of the United Nations Genocide Convention defines genocide as any act committed with intent to destroy, in part or in whole, a national, racial, cultural or religious group.

- Killing members of a group.
- Causing serious physical and mental harm to members of a group.
- Deliberately forcing a group to live in such conditions that cause their partial or total physical harm.
- Taking such steps whose purpose is to prevent the birth of children in a group.
-Forcibly sending children from one group to another group.
- All member states that have signed the Convention have a common responsibility to prevent genocide from occurring and to punish those who commit it.

Israel sued for genocide in Gaza, what did the International Court say?

Friday, January 26, 2024

On Friday, January 26, 2024, the International Court of Justice in The Hague, Netherlands, heard the allegations against Israel for committing genocide against Palestinians in Gaza.

This case was filed by South Africa in the International Court of Justice.

The International Court of Justice considered nine emergency measures proposed by South Africa. But she will not consider South Africa's accusations of genocide against Israel. Israel has been denying these allegations.

The proposed steps considered by the court include Israel's immediate suspension of military operations in Gaza.

Judge Joan Donoghue said the court was 'gravely concerned' about the deaths and suffering.

Judge Joan Donoghue said the scope of the current case was limited.

During the hearing, the judge also mentioned Hamas' attack on Israel on October 7, 2023. The judge said that some of the allegations against Israel are within the provisions of the Genocide Convention.

The judge said that any party to the Genocide Convention can file a case against another country, so South Africa has the legal basis to file this case.

During the hearing, the judge also quoted the statement of UN Emergency Relief Coordinator Martin Griffiths that 'Gaza has become a byword for death and despair.'

Israeli and Palestinian supporters have also gathered outside the International Court of Justice.

The hearing of the case filed against Israel started in the International Court of Justice from 11 January 2024.

South Africa accuses Israel of genocide

South Africa filed an 84-page appeal with the International Court of Justice, saying Israel's actions were genocidal in the nature of their intent to cause the maximum extermination of the Palestinian people in Gaza.

It says acts of genocide include killing, causing serious mental and physical harm to the Palestinian people, and creating conditions that "aim for their collective destruction."

According to the appeal filed in the ICJ, the intentions of genocide are also reflected in the statements of Israeli officials.

What did Israel say on the charge of genocide?

Israeli legal adviser Tal Baker told the International Court of Justice that South Africa was distorting the truth and presenting "a broader narrative than the truth" about the Israel-Palestine conflict.

Opening his arguments at the International Court of Justice on 12 January 2024, Tal Baker acknowledged that the suffering civilians are facing in Gaza is a "tragedy".

However, Tal Baker also said that the Palestinian extremist organization Hamas wants to "increase the damage caused to Israel and the Palestinians" while "Israel wants to reduce it".

Tal Baker said, "It is sad that South Africa has presented a grossly distorted factual and legal picture to the court. The entire case is a distorted and out of context description of the reality of the current conflict. It has been deliberately created on that basis.''

Genocide case against Israel, what did the International Court of Justice say in the decision?

Friday, January 26, 2024

The International Court of Justice (ICJ) has not agreed to South Africa's request for an immediate ceasefire in Gaza, which is under Israeli attack.

This is something that may disappoint South Africans and the Palestinian people.

However, the majority of the 17 judges hearing the case said Israel should do everything within its power to prevent deaths, physical or mental harm to Palestinians.

The International Court of Justice also said that Israel should not take any steps that hinder Palestinian women from giving birth to children.

This is not the final decision of the court on the genocide. It appears that it will take several years to take a decision on this. Israel now has to take a decision on this.

ICJ decisions are binding but there is no systematic system to implement them. Diplomatic efforts are ongoing at the international level for a ceasefire.

Efforts are also being made to improve the delivery of humanitarian aid in Gaza, so Israel can argue before the court that it is already taking steps on the demands of the court.

What did India say on the allegations of killing two Pakistani citizens?

Thursday, January 25, 2024

India's Foreign Ministry has reacted to Pakistan's allegations of killing two Pakistani citizens.

Indian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said, "We have seen some media reports on the statement given by the Foreign Secretary of Pakistan. This is a new attempt by Pakistan to run false anti-India propaganda."

In fact, in Islamabad, Pakistan's Foreign Secretary Mohammad Cyrus Sajjad Qazi said on Thursday, January 25, 2024 that there is 'strong evidence' of the involvement of Indian agents in the killing of two Pakistani citizens in Sialkot and Rawalakot.

On this, the spokesperson of the Ministry of External Affairs of India said, “As the world knows, Pakistan has been a hub of terrorism, organized crime and illegal activities for a long time.''

The statement said, "India and many other countries have publicly warned Pakistan that it will itself be the victim of this terrorism and violence by its own nature. Pakistan will reap what it has sown. Blame others for its wrongdoings. Madhna is neither justified nor is it a solution.''

Pakistan claims Indian agents killed Shahid Latif and Mohammad Riaz

Thursday, January 25, 2024

Pakistan has accused India of killing two Pakistani citizens in Pakistani territory.

In Islamabad, Pakistan's Foreign Secretary Mohammad Cyrus Sajjad Qazi said on Thursday, 25 January 2024, that there is 'strong evidence' of the involvement of Indian agents in the killing of two Pakistani citizens in Sialkot and Rawalkot.

Pakistan has termed these cases as cases of murder by giving betel nuts.

Pakistan Foreign Secretary Mohammad Cyrus Sajjad Qazi alleged, "On October 11, 2023, a person named Shahid Latif was murdered outside a mosque in Sialkot. An Indian agent named Yogesh Kumar conspired to commit this murder. Is living in a third country. He hired a person named Mohammad Umer.''

Shahid Latif is considered the mastermind of the Pathankot attack in India.

In 2016, seven Indian soldiers were killed in the terrorist attack in Pathankot. All the terrorists involved in the attack were also killed.

Pakistani Foreign Secretary claimed that Mohammad Omar formed a team of five people and they failed in the first attempt but on October 11, 2023, they killed Latif.

Qazi told that Mohammad Umer was arrested on 12 October 2023, he was trying to abscond from Pakistan.

Pakistan's Foreign Secretary alleged that the second murder was of a person named Mohammad Riaz.

Mohammad Riaz was a Kashmiri terrorist who was shot dead in a mosque in Rawalakot, Pakistan-administered Kashmir on 8 September 2023. Mohammad Riaz was also known as Abu Qasim Kashmiri.

Pakistan has claimed that security officials arrested the accused named Mohammad Abdullah Ali on 15 September 2023.

Pakistan Foreign Ministry official said that Mohammad Abdullah Ali was also arrested from Jinnah International Airport and during interrogation it was revealed that Indian agents Ashok Kumar Anand and Yogesh Kumar were involved.

Pakistan has said that there are more such cases, the investigation of which is going on.